Saturday, 24 December 2016

The reason that Jesus' birth is celebrated on the 25th of December is because Jesus is the Light of the World and 22nd of December is the Winter Solstice when the sun in the northern hemisphere is at its furthest point south.

The reason that it is the December 25th and not December 22nd is because the sun is stationary for three days and on the third day the sun begins to move back towards the north.

Hence the Birth of the Sun (Mithras) - the Light.

So when celebrating Christmas we are in fact celebrating the day that the Light was born into the world.

Friday, 16 December 2016

"For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!" Isaiah 5:7 (NRSV)

We may wonder how Israel, God's chosen people, could be so violent and heartless in their oppression of the people of Palestine.

But the Old Testament is full of prophecies that criticize Israel for turning away from God.

The prophets continually accuse Israel of wickedness and iniquity.

Jesus' criticism of the Pharisees is merely a continuation of this tradition.

So don't support Israel's actions merely because they are God's chosen people, many a king of Israel was called "evil in the sight of God." 2 Kings 21:2a (NRSV)

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]

Wednesday, 14 December 2016

Jesus said, "'Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'" John 8:12c (NRSV)

This is to follow the way of Love.

To love God and love our neighbor.

This is what it means to live in the Light of Life.

God is real.

He requites our love.

And He grants us the gift of Light.

That we may discriminate.

And see clearly.

Never to return.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]

Saturday, 3 December 2016

We know that he had strong, loving relationships with men:
Barbabas, Timothy, Silas and others.

He speaks of having a thorn in the flesh which God would not remove.

Paul was originally a member of a strict sect of Pharisees who did not marry.

We know that they were homophobic:
"Was not your sister Sodom a byword in your mouth in the day of your pride, before your wickedness was uncovered." Ezekiel 16:56 (NRSV)

So it is quite possible that Paul had internalized the strong homophobic attitudes of the Pharisees.

It is also significant that God would not remove this thorn.

Many modern homosexual men have prayed to God to be made straight but have not been.

Could it be that God understands homosexuality better than us?

Could God know that homosexuality is genetic and cannot be changed?

Could it be that God created homosexuals as part of the diversity of His good creation?

In any case Paul's rants about sexual matters and his misogynistic attitude towards women betray his underlying anxiety about sex.

So it is quite possible that St. Paul was a closet homosexual.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]